A day after narrowly winning re-election, Houston school board member Manuel Rodriguez Jr. apologized Wednesday for a campaign ad targeting his rival for being gay.

"I am aware that some people have said they were offended by one of my ads, and I apologize to all of those people," Rodriguez said in a statement.

The apology didn't satisfy Rodriguez's opponent, Ramiro Fonseca, who lost by 24 votes, according to the unofficial results.

Fonseca said he was waiting for the final vote tally, which would count outstanding mail and provisional ballots, before deciding his next step - including a possible request for a recount.

"I think the hurt has been deep in the community," Fonseca said in response to Rodriguez's statement.

Rodriguez's campaign flier urged voters to oppose Fonseca, noting that Fonseca has a male partner and no children. The ad said Fonseca had "spent years advocating for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender rights … not kids."

Critics respond

Rodriguez had stood by the ad, calling it "the truth," in the days before the election - despite calls for an apology from the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, which advocates for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.

Houston Independent School District trustee Juliet Stipeche also publicly criticized the flier, and the Houston Chronicle rescinded its endorsement of Rodriguez.

The critics noted that the ad seemed to defy the board's new anti-discrimination policy, which prohibits bullying based on sexual orientation.

In his statement, Rodriguez said he supported the policy. "I voted for this policy because it was the right thing to do, and I remain committed to creating a culture in our schools where all people feel welcome and safe," he said.

Rodriguez will have to face his critics in person at a board meeting Thursday.

Mike Pomeroy, a member of the GLBT caucus, said he thought Rodriguez's statement was insufficient, and he plans to join others - including an HISD student - in addressing Rodriguez during the public comment period.

"I don't think he gets it," Pomeroy said. "He was throughout the weekend saying, 'I don't know what's wrong with this. It's the truth.' And he was still handing out the flier at the polls. This is all coming a little bit too late."

Fonseca, a Houston Community College administrator who had the support of several established politicians and the teachers' union, won more votes than Rodriguez on Election Day. But Rodriguez had more votes via mail and early voting, which took place before the campaign ad circulated widely.

Recount reality

If Fonseca does request a recount, his chances of winning appear slim, observers say.

"When you do an electronic recount, it's really hard to turn it around," said Marc Campos, a campaign consultant who advised Fonseca. "It's not like the old days when you can debate a hanging chad."